Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080220664 | Wiper for Tool String Direct Electrical Connection - In one aspect of the invention, a downhole electrical connection system comprises first and second tubular bodies adapted for threaded connection to each other, each tubular body comprising an inner and an outer diameter. First and second electrical conductor assemblies are disposed within the inner diameters of the tubular bodies and are substantially coaxial with the tubular bodies and generally extend the length of the tubular bodies. The first electrical conductor assembly comprises a first electrical contact adapted to abut a second electrical contact of the second electrical conductor assembly when the first and second tubular bodies are coupled together. The first electrical contact is disposed within an elastically deformable wiper, and the elastically deformable wiper is adapted to expose the first electrical contact as it is engaged by the second electrical contact under an axially compressive load. | 09-11-2008 |
20080238181 | Retention System - A retention assembly, comprises a carbide bolster comprising a cavity formed in its base end. A shaft comprises an inserted end disposed within the cavity. The shaft is disposed within a hollow shank which comprises a first end contacting the bolster and a loaded end in mechanical communication with the shaft. The inserted end is interlocked to an inner surface of the cavity through a casting. | 10-02-2008 |
20080246329 | Retention System - A retention assembly has a carbide bolster with a first and second segment brazed together, each segment forming at least part of a cavity formed of the bolster. A shaft has an inserted end is interlocked within the cavity. | 10-09-2008 |
20080302572 | Drill Bit Porting System - In one aspect of the present invention a drill bit has a jack element with a distal end extending beyond a working face. A porting mechanism within the bore comprises first and second discs contacting along a flat interface. The first disc is attached to a turbine which is adapted to rotate the first disc with respect to the second disc. The discs comprise a first set of ports adapted to align and misalign with each other as the first disc rotates. The first set of ports is adapted to route a drilling fluid to extend the jack element. | 12-11-2008 |
20090050372 | Downhole Turbine - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds. | 02-26-2009 |
20090057016 | Downhole Turbine - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds. | 03-05-2009 |
20090139711 | Tool String Threads - A downhole tool string component comprises a tubular body with a first and second end. The tubular body of the tool string comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. A loading member near the other end of the tubular component is disposed about the outer surface and is adapted for loading the at least one sleeve against a shoulder. The loading member comprises an internal threadform adapted to threadingly engage an external threadform in the outer surface of the tubular body. Either the external threadform or the internal threadform comprises a plurality of threads with a distal thread comprising a first thread height and a proximal thread comprising a second thread height. The first thread height is greater than the second thread height and a plurality of the threads heights between the first and second thread heights accumulatively taper from the first height to the second height. | 06-04-2009 |
20090146489 | Retention System - A retention assembly, comprises a carbide bolster comprising a cavity formed in its base end. A shaft comprises an inserted end disposed within the cavity. The shaft is disposed within a hollow shank which comprises a first end contacting the bolster and a loaded end in mechanical communication with the shaft. Wherein, the inserted end is brazed to an inner surface of the cavity. | 06-11-2009 |
20090183919 | Downhole Percussive Tool with Alternating Pressure Differentials - A downhole percussive tool is disclosed comprising an interior chamber and a piston element slidably sitting within the interior chamber forming two pressure chambers on either side. The piston element may slide back and forth within the interior chamber as drilling fluid is channeled into either pressure chamber. Input channels supply drilling fluid into the pressure chambers and exit orifices release that fluid from the same. An exhaust orifice allows additional drilling fluid to release from the interior chamber. The amount of pressure maintained in either pressure chamber may be controlled by the size of the exiting orifices and exhaust orifices. In various embodiments, the percussive tool may form a downhole jack hammer or vibrator tool. | 07-23-2009 |
20090183920 | Downhole Percussive Tool with Alternating Pressure Differentials - A downhole percussive tool is disclosed comprising an interior chamber and a piston element slidably sitting within the interior chamber forming two pressure chambers on either side. The piston element may slide back and forth within the interior chamber as drilling fluid is channeled into either pressure chamber. Input channels supply drilling fluid into the pressure chambers and exit orifices release that fluid from the same. An exhaust orifice allows additional drilling fluid to release from the interior chamber. The amount of pressure maintained in either pressure chamber may be controlled by the size of the exiting orifices and exhaust orifices. In various embodiments, the percussive tool may form a downhole jack hammer or vibrator tool. | 07-23-2009 |
20090229883 | Flow Guide Actuation - In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades. | 09-17-2009 |
20090236148 | Flow Guide Actuation - In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades. | 09-24-2009 |
20090301784 | Constricting Flow Diverter - In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole assembly has a downhole tool string component with a bore adapted to accommodate drilling mud having a central passage and at least one periphery passage. At least two movable segments are peripherally positioned around a bore wall adapted to constrict a diameter of the central passage and are adapted to divert drilling mud into the at least one periphery passage. At least one opening mechanism is adapted to move a portion of the at least two movable segments toward the bore wall. | 12-10-2009 |
20100051256 | Downhole Tool String Component that is Protected from Drilling Stresses - In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole tool string component has a first and second threaded end on a mandrel, the first threaded end attached to a first sleeve and the second threaded end attached to a second sleeve. An intermediate sleeve assembly is disposed circumferentially around the mandrel and intermediate the first and second threaded ends, and the intermediate sleeve assembly is primarily isolated from stress of the first or second sleeve. | 03-04-2010 |
20100065334 | Turbine Driven Hammer that Oscillates at a Constant Frequency - In one aspect of the present invention a hammer assembly comprises a substantially coaxial jack element with a distal end extending beyond a working face of a drill bit. A porting mechanism within the bore comprises a first and second disc substantially contacting along a flat interface substantially normal to the axis of rotation. The first disc is attached to a turbine which is adapted to rotate the first disc with respect to the second disc. The first disc comprises a first set of ports adapted to align and misalign with a second and third set of ports in the second disc. As the first disc rotates, the sets of ports are adapted to route a drilling fluid into a piston chamber where the porting mechanism causes the jack element to repeatedly extend further beyond the working surface of the drill bit at a constant frequency. | 03-18-2010 |
20100212884 | Ratchet Mechanism in a Fluid Actuated Device - In one aspect of the present invention, a tool comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular body. A guided sleeve and a reciprocating sleeve are both disposed within the bore. A gearwheel is located on an outer surface of the guided sleeve and at least one pawl located on an inner surface of the reciprocating sleeve. When the reciprocating sleeve translates axially, it rotates in a first direction. As the reciprocating rotates, the at least one pawl pushes the gearwheel and causes the guided sleeve to rotate in the first direction into a new position. | 08-26-2010 |
20100212965 | Downhole Tool Actuation - In one aspect of the invention, a downhole tool string component has at least one end adapted to connect to an adjacent tool sting component and a bore adapted to accommodate a flow of drilling fluid. A turbine is disposed within the bore and an actuating assembly is arranged such that a clutch may mechanically connect and disconnect with the turbine. | 08-26-2010 |
20100212966 | Downhole Tool Actuation - In one aspect of the invention, a downhole tool string component has at least one end adapted to connect to an adjacent tool sting component and a bore adapted to accommodate a flow of drilling fluid. A turbine is disposed within the bore and an actuating assembly is arranged such that a clutch may mechanically connect and disconnect with the turbine. | 08-26-2010 |
20110240369 | Downhole Steerable Hammer Element - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face. The drill bit body houses a jack element protruding from the drill bit body and the jack element has a plurality of inserts disposed on the indenting end. | 10-06-2011 |
20110240377 | Drill Bit Jack Element with a Plurality of Inserts - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face. The drill bit body houses a jack element protruding from the drill bit body and the jack element has a plurality of inserts disposed on the indenting end. | 10-06-2011 |
20110240378 | Tapered Blade Profile on an Outer Bit - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit assembly is configured for downhole drilling. The drill bit assembly comprises an outer bit with a plurality of outer blades and a bore disposed within an outer cutting face. In addition, the outer bit comprises a rotational axis. The drill bit assembly comprises an inner cutting face that is configured to cut a hole with an inner gauge diameter in front of the outer bit. At least one outer blade on the outer bit comprises a central most cutter configured to degrade the inner gauge diameter. The central most cutter is axially and laterally displaced from the second most central cutter on the at least blade such that less than fifty percent of the central most cutter axially and laterally overlaps the second most central cutter. | 10-06-2011 |
20110247882 | Exhaust Port in a Protruding Element of a Downhole Drill Bit - In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit comprises an axis of rotation and a drill bit body that comprises a central bore and a working face, the working face comprising a plurality of fixed element cutting elements, a jack element extending from the working face and being coaxial with the axis of rotation, the jack element comprising a proximal end in mechanical communication with an oscillating hammer mechanism, the jack element also comprising a channel in fluid communication with the central bore, the channel directing a fluid flow into a formation, wherein a fluid volume defined by the hammer mechanism and the central bore is evacuated through the channel. | 10-13-2011 |
20120012337 | Crawler System for an Earth Boring System - In one aspect of the present invention, a crawler system for an earth boring system comprises at least two expandable tools along a common axis and spaced apart from each other along the common axis by a piston cylinder device. The at least two expandable tools comprise a mandrel comprising a tubular body and an outer diameter, a plurality of blades, and a slidable sleeve capable of manipulating the plurality of blades into collapsed and expanded positions. The plurality of blades of one of the at least two expandable tools expand to an expanded position and engage a borehole wall. The piston cylinder device anchors against the engagement between the borehole wall and one of the at least two expandable tools to axially translate the other of the at least two expandable tools. | 01-19-2012 |
20120012397 | Expandable Tool for an Earth Boring System - In one aspect of the present invention an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a mandrel comprising a tubular body and an outer diameter, a plurality of blades disposed about the outer diameter, and a slidable sleeve positioned around the outer diameter and capable of manipulating the plurality of blades into collapsed and expanded positions. | 01-19-2012 |
20120012398 | Expandable Tool with at least One Blade that Locks in Place through a Wedging Effect - In one aspect of the present invention, an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a mandrel with a sleeve positioned around the outer surface and a blade disposed in a slot formed in the sleeve. The sleeve is also configured to slide along the tubular body. The blade comprises an interior slide groove located on an interior surface and an exterior slide groove located on an exterior surface. A sleeve protrusion is configured to extend into the interior slide groove, while a mandrel protrusion is configured to extend into the exterior slide groove. The blade is configured to shift laterally out of the slot as the sleeve slides axially, wherein the interior and exterior slide grooves are oriented at different angles and as the sleeve slides axially along the length of the mandrel, the slide grooves lock the blade in a pre-determined position through a wedging effect. | 01-19-2012 |
20120080233 | Steering Mechanism with a Ring Disposed about an Outer Diameter of a Drill Bit - In one aspect of the present invention, a steering assembly for downhole directional drilling comprises a drill bit comprising a cutting portion and an outer diameter. A steering ring disposed around the outer diameter, and at least one biasing mechanism disposed intermediate the outer diameter and the steering ring. The at least one biasing mechanism is configured to move the steering ring with respect to the outer diameter. | 04-05-2012 |
20120080234 | Drill Bit Steering Assembly - In one aspect of the present invention, a steering assembly for downhole directional drilling comprises an outer bit comprising a bore and an outer cutting area and in inner bit comprising an inner cutting area and connected to a shaft that is disposed within the bore. At least one biasing mechanism is disposed around the shaft. At least one fluid channel is disposed within the outer bit and redirects fluid to the at least one biasing mechanism causing the at least one biasing mechanism to push the shaft and alter an axis of the inner bit with respect to an axis of the outer bit. | 04-05-2012 |
20120103593 | System for a Downhole String with a Downhole Valve - In one aspect of the present invention, a system for a downhole string comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular component. A reciprocating valve is located within a wall of the bore hydraulically connecting the bore with a fluid passage. The valve comprises a substantially cylindrical shaped housing. First and second ports are disposed on a circumference of the housing, and a fluid pathway is disposed intermediate the first and second ports. The valve comprises an axially slidable spool disposed within and coaxial with the housing and comprises a blocker. The blocker is configured to slide axially so to block and unblock the fluid pathway to control a flow from the bore to the fluid passage. The valve comprises a plurality of seals. Each seal is disposed opposite of the blocker causing pressure to be equally applied to the blocker and the plurality of seals. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103594 | System for a Downhole String with a Downhole Valve - In one aspect of the present invention, a system for a downhole string comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular component. A reciprocating valve is located within a wall of the bore hydraulically connecting the bore with a fluid passage. The valve comprises a substantially cylindrical shaped housing. First and second ports are disposed on a circumference of the housing, and a fluid pathway is disposed intermediate the first and second ports. The valve comprises an axially slidable spool disposed within and coaxial with the housing and comprises a blocker. The blocker is configured to slide axially so to block and unblock the fluid pathway to control a flow from the bore to the fluid passage. The valve comprises a plurality of seals. Each seal is disposed opposite of the blocker causing pressure to be equally applied to the blocker and the plurality of seals. | 05-03-2012 |
20120193147 | Fluid Path between the Outer Surface of a Tool and an Expandable Blade - In one aspect of the invention, an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a through bore configured to accommodate drilling fluid. A blade is configured to extend and retract out of an outer surface of the tool. A secondary fluid pathway connects the bore with an interface between the outer surface of the tool and a surface of the blade. The secondary pathway directs drilling fluid through the interface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120234604 | Timed Steering Nozzle on a Downhole Drill Bit - In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole rotary steerable system comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a drill string component. A valve located within a wall of the bore which hydraulically connects the bore with a fluid cavity. A steering nozzle disposed on the drill string component and in communication with the fluid cavity. The valve is configured to control flow from the bore to the fluid cavity with an azimuthal sensing mechanism configured to determine the azimuth of the steering nozzle and instrumentation configured to control the valve based off of input from the azimuthal sensing mechanism. | 09-20-2012 |
20120234606 | Timed Steering Nozzle on a Downhole Drill Bit - In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole rotary steerable system comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a drill string component. A valve located within a wall of the bore which hydraulically connects the bore with a fluid cavity. A steering nozzle disposed on the drill string component and in communication with the fluid cavity. The valve is configured to control flow from the bore to the fluid cavity with an azimuthal sensing mechanism configured to determine the azimuth of the steering nozzle and instrumentation configured to control the valve based off of input from the azimuthal sensing mechanism. | 09-20-2012 |
20120273187 | Detecting a Reamer Position through a Magnet Field Sensor - In one aspect of the present invention, a tool string component comprises at least one end that attaches to an adjacent component in a through bore. The invention also comprises a laterally extending member disposed along a length of the tool string component. A magnetic mechanism is configured to sense an extension depth of the laterally extending member. | 11-01-2012 |
20120313741 | Data Transmission Apparatus Comprising a Helically Wound Conductor - In one aspect of the present invention, an inductive coupling comprises an inner and outer casing. The inner casing comprises an inner trough formed into an exterior surface with an inner electrical conductor disposed within the inner trough. The outer casing comprises an outer trough formed into the interior surface with an outer electrical conductor disposed within the outer trough. The outer casing is configured to encircle the inner casing such that the inner electrical conductor is in magnetic communication with the outer electrical conductor. A helical geometry is formed in at least one of the inner or outer troughs. The inner and outer casings are configured to move relative to each other. | 12-13-2012 |
20130059474 | Conical Inductive Coupler - In one aspect of the present invention, an inductive coupling comprises a pin section and a box section. The pin section comprises an inner electrical conductor supported in an exterior tapered surface of the pin section. The box section comprises an outer electrical conductor supported in an interior tapered surface of the box section. The exterior and interior tapered surfaces are configured to align each other such that the interior and exterior tapered surfaces are coaxial with each other when fully engaged. | 03-07-2013 |
20130206390 | Downhole Tool Piston Assembly - A piston assembly may comprise a housing with a wall, and at least one chamber formed in the wall. A piston may be disposed within the chamber and at least one passageway may pass through the piston. At least one pin may be disposed within the passageway and attached to the chamber, and the piston may be free to translate relative to the pin. | 08-15-2013 |
20130307266 | Oil-Well Tubular Anchoring System for Lwd/Mwd Tools - An anchoring assembly in a downhole tool, the assembly including a first tubular member, a second tubular member coupled to the first tubular member, and an anchoring block disposed between the first tubular member and the second tubular member. The anchoring block includes a body having a central axis defined therethrough and a central bore formed therethrough, a contact crown, in which at least one annular flow channel is formed between the contact crown and the body, and a contact ring configured to engage at least a portion of the first tubular member. | 11-21-2013 |